as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
inefficient measures to solve the problem of teenage smoking
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inefficient
Current software, dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s, is reliable but inefficient and cannot be updated to support new technologies.
—
Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
For years, poor governance has doomed the Chicago region to an inefficient, uncoordinated transit system that fails to adequately serve its riders.
—Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Businesses often overlook the financial consequences of poor hiring decisions or inefficient technology, yet these areas directly affect the bottom line.
—Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
The space weather exercise overseen by NOAA found that inefficient communication between space weather experts and other government agencies and stakeholders likely to deal with the fallout of these incidents could lead to incorrect conclusions.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
For years, poor governance has doomed the Chicago region to an inefficient, uncoordinated transit system that fails to adequately serve its riders.
—Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Businesses often overlook the financial consequences of poor hiring decisions or inefficient technology, yet these areas directly affect the bottom line.
—Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
The space weather exercise overseen by NOAA found that inefficient communication between space weather experts and other government agencies and stakeholders likely to deal with the fallout of these incidents could lead to incorrect conclusions.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inefficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inefficient
Adjective
-
One game after the Oilers were unsuccessful in challenging that Bennett interfered with Stuart Skinner during the game’s first goal, Bennett toppled over Skinner after getting contact from Ekholm later in the period.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
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Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Surgery may be considered if nonsurgical methods are ineffective or the underlying cause indicates surgery is the most effective option.—
Sukaina Hasnie,
Verywell Health,
4 June 2025
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Not only would this produce a chaotic and likely ineffective U.S. foreign policy, but the administration could run into some serious trouble with contingency planning.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Still, Marles suggested the Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies were counterproductive.—
Tara Copp,
Chicago Tribune,
31 May 2025
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At times of economic, social and planetary upheaval, best practice is counterproductive.—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inefficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inefficient. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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